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Azadirachtin downregulates the expression of the CREB gene and protein in the brain and directly or indirectly affects the cognitive behavior of the Spodoptera litura fourth‐instar larvae
Author(s) -
Qin Deqiang,
Zhou You,
Zhang Peiwen,
Liu Benju,
Zheng Qun,
Zhang Zhixiang
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
pest management science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.296
H-Index - 125
eISSN - 1526-4998
pISSN - 1526-498X
DOI - 10.1002/ps.6212
Subject(s) - creb , spodoptera litura , azadirachtin , gene expression , biology , protein kinase a , kinase , microbiology and biotechnology , gene , pharmacology , biochemistry , botany , transcription factor , pesticide , larva , agronomy
BACKGROUND Azadirachtin has the potential to be used for pest control. Nevertheless, few studies have investigated the effects of azadirachtin on the cognitive behavior of pests. In this study, expression of the cAMP response element‐binding protein (CREB) and its gene were studied via a series of experiments in Spodoptera litura larvae treated with azadirachtin. RESULTS RNA‐Seq analysis of S. litura larvae treated with azadirachtin was undertaken. According to Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analysis, the top 20 enriched pathways included neuroactive ligand–receptor interaction pathways, with seven significantly differentially expressed genes including CREB. Quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR) results indicated that the CREB gene was expressed during all developmental stages of S. litura , but relative expression of the CREB gene was significantly downregulated after treatment with azadirachtin. Grayscale statistical analysis also showed that expression levels of protein kinase A (PKA), extracellular signal‐regulated kinase (ERK) and CREB proteins were significantly downregulated after treatment with azadirachtin. Moreover, RNA interference results showed that the effect of azadirachtin on the cognitive behavior of S. litura was consistent with that seen after interfering with CREB. In addition, larval selectivity to addictive odor sources was reduced, and the initial reaction time was increased. CONCLUSIONS This study clarified that azadirachtin can affect the cognitive behavior of S. litura and treatment with azadirachtin resulted in a downregulation of gene and protein expression of CREB and its pathway proteins. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry